Our History In Pictures

This is the earliest known photograph of East Liberty Church and her congregation.  This structure replaced the original brick building which was built in 1845 and razed in 1867.

The photo is taken from the cover of "The Fieldview", a publication of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, dated April 1903.  At the time of its publication, Mrs. Nancy Pope (age 86) was the only living charter member of the congregation.

Joseph Oglevee joined the church in 1845 and was elected ruling elder in 1877.  He wrote a history of the church for "The Fieldview" (above), much of which is now a part of the church's 'Official History'.  He may also have been the author of the "Oglevee Memoirs".

Rev. A.J. Swayne was pastor of the church for 5 years during the years in which the "new building" (pictured above) was built.

Joseph A. Strickler was a member of Session.

L.L. Collins served as ruling elder and also as trustee (1881).   

C.C. Collins served as Superintendent of Sunday School at that time.  Later C.C. was ordained an elder, was serving as elder during the Centennial year (1938) and was the Chairman of the Building Committee in 1956-57.  C.C. owned a lumberyard in Vanderbilt, and served on the board of the Dickerson Run Cemetery.  When a church addition was built in 1956, the chapel (now the choir room) was named the C.C. Collins Chapel in his honor.

Jesse Oglevee and Farrington Oglevee both served as ruling elders.  Jesse was ordained ruling elder in 1843 and Farrington was ordained in 1881.

This is the church building as it appeared after the 1913 addition, which included a kitchen, belfry, and Sunday School rooms.  
Behind the left tower, part of the original A-frame building can be seen.

The Altrurian (Women's) Bible Class, taken during the Centennial Anniversary Celebration on July 3, 1938.  If you can name anyone in the photo please let us know! 

So far, the following people have been identified: 
First row, last on the right, is Mrs. J. Howard (Emma Fleming) Dunn (submitted by her granddaughter, Kathleen Dunn Godfrey)

All these photos were taken at the Centennial Celebration on July 3, 1938:

Photo 1 - Mr. Lem Allen and Rev. K. Johnson   Photo 2 - unknown boy, Devere Collins, C. Brown, John Snyder, C.C. Collins, M.E. Collins, Harry Collins, Carrie Collins

Photo 3 - Ewing Galley, John Snyder, Amanda Harper, Mrs. Snyder (?), Belle Strickler, Lem Allen, Ben McManus, Rev. K. Johnson

Prior to the building of the Christian Education Building in 1956, the back of the sanctuary served as the dining room and kitchen.  The first photo shows the old dining room when set up for a meal; the interior of the sanctuary can be seen behind it.  The second photo of the old kitchen is taken from within the sanctuary.

The first photo shows the sanctuary and how badly the additional space was needed.  The dining room & kitchen area can be seen in the upper right corner of the photo.  The second photo is of the entryway/ vestibule, with the front door at the left of the photo.  During renovations, walls were removed and this entire area was opened up to create a spacious narthex.

The church building in 1959, after all the additions were completed.  Each section can be seen in this photo.  Phase One (1867): the A-frame structure, which has always been the sanctuary, in what is now the center section of the building.  Phase Two (1913): what is now the front section of the building.  It contains the belfry and what was then classrooms, kitchen, and dining room.  Phase Three (1956): can be partially seen behind the old A-frame section; this now houses the fellowship hall, offices, and meeting rooms.

The interior of the sanctuary as it appeared after the remodeling was completed in 1959.

The exterior of the Church and adjoining Manse as they appeared in 1984.

The 150th Anniversary Committee (1988): Rev. George Wilson, pastor; Ruth Strickler, 60-year member; Jessie Brady, President, Alturian Bible Class; Ruth Weise, 56-year member; and Nannetta Reed, Clerk of Session.

Mrs. Lyda Lint (1886-1989), who holds the record for the longest membership at East Liberty -- 87 years!  
She passed away in 1989 at age 103.

Church picnic on the front lawn, September 1994.